Our Mission
The mission the 2016 Colorado STEM Summit is to create a non-partisan, highly interactive communication forum that aligns and connects business leaders, educators (p-12 and post-secondary), policy makers and stakeholders to a more synergistic Colorado STEM system. This summit will serve as a cohesive foundation to build upon with a focus on the needs and outcomes that will benefit all students and Colorado STEM industry partnerships.
8 million
Estimated number of STEM jobs expected in the U.S. by 2018.
14th
Colorado’s rank for projected STEM job need by the year 2018.
2
The number of jobs for every STEM graduate in Colorado.
98%
The employment rate for those with a degree in the STEM field.
The Challenge
The issue is whether the U.S. educational system can produce sufficient new workers to fill these STEM jobs and how businesses can attract the talent needed to ensure continued success in STEM fields. In Colorado, if we don’t increase the number of STEM graduates, businesses will be forced to continue importing talent at tremendous cost. We risk losing these companies and the revenue they provide if they choose to move.
The Opportunity
Leaders in the Colorado STEM community are hard at work creating programs to develop top STEM talent. These programs are providing knowledge for the educational system; supporting businesses in attracting and keeping top STEM talent; informing policy makers on how to best serve those organizations; and keeping the community abreast of information and developments as they occur.
Summit Goals
- Celebrate the ongoing efforts of partners in advancing STEM.
- Announcement of new and exciting commitments to ensure every Coloradan has access to the STEM education and experiences needed to succeed.
- Issuance of a call-to-action to policy makers to remove barriers and increase supports in building a local talent pipeline.
- Create a dialogue between business leaders, educators and policy makers sharing their specific needs.
